Peirsol add silver to metal collection
Newport Harbor High graduate Aaron Peirsol captured his second medal
at the 2003 World Championships in Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday,
picking up a silver medal with a second-place finish as part of the
800-meter freestyle relay team.
Peirsol, who won a gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke Tuesday,
swam the third leg of the relay for the U.S. Though his time was the
slowest among the four American swimmers, the U.S. held the lead
through the first three legs of the race.
But Australia, the world-record holders in the event, had Ian
Thorpe as an anchor and his split of 1:44.41 lifted the Aussies to
the gold medal despite a 1:45.99 split by American Klete Keller, the
fastest relay split by an American ever.
The relay team, which also included Michael Phelps and Nate
Dusing, finished with a time of 7:10.26, a new American record, more
than a second faster than the old mark of 7:11.81. Australia’s
winning time was 7:08.58, well off their world-record mark of
7:04.66.
Peirsol, who won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in the
200 backstroke, will begin competition in that event today. He will
also compete in the 50 back Saturday and Sunday.
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